The Shoemaker's Children Have No Fence... I Mean, Shoes.

Although I'm not a shoemaker (nor do I have any kids), I do get where "Anonymous" was going with that old saying. After a long, rewarding day of painting and renovating interesting spaces for other people, when I get home my instinct is definitely not to grab a hammer, head into the backyard, and forge the fence my home deserves. That said, living flush against a two story apartment building can make all involved feel like fish in a fishbowl. So, in a quest for privacy, I did the only logical thing - I applied to be on a televised home makeover show, HGTV's Hammer Heads. 

While I may not have the mad skills necessary to win the regular lottery, I did land the apply-to-a-TV-show-and-get-a-renovation one. Before you think to yourself "Not fair," check out a picture of the backyard prior to their help.

Not exactly a calling card. But three hosts, a skeleton crew, and five days later... Tah-Dah!

Alright, there are a lot of noteworthy things happening in this picture. First, the wood slat/faux tin tile fence makes the giant white apartment building behind the house disappear. If "good fences make good neighbors," then my neighbors are top notch. 

It's time for next level stuff - notice the couch is made of both wood and wrought iron. Now check back in with "Before" picture number 2... look carefully... like "Where's Waldo" carefully. (No rush, I'll wait.) Yeah, you spied it. The iron part of the couch was created using the bottom level of the rusted shelving unit. Some would have considered it a massive piece of junk, but the Hammer Heads crew saw the raw materials needed to construct a one-of-a-kind lounging paradise. 

My third favorite feature of the new backyard - a wall of herbs. Insanely delicious and self-explanatory. 
Thanks Hammer Heads gang. I truly appreciate all of your hard work and the off the charts finished product.